------------------
HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
------------------
Chapter 99: Welcoming the Guest (2)
[Using Bone Control.]
[Using Alchemy Formula - Reinforcement Circuit.]
[Using Bone Armor.]
Yoojin shaved off the bones with precision. After carving a reinforcement circuit into the bone's core, he used necromancy to combine it with the Skeleton Warrior's armor.
Creak— Creeeak—
The grinding of bone was a disconcerting sound, but a smirk spread across his face as the system responded.
[Skeleton Warrior's anatomy has been improved.]
[All stats increase by 32.7%.]
[Defense Lv20 is added.]
"Next."
-Groan.
With the modifications complete, the Skeleton Warrior stepped aside. The line of waiting undead shuffled forward.
He eyed the next one critically.
"I'd rather assess your teeth than your physique, but I suppose that's irrelevant. It's not like we're going on a date."
[Using Bone Control.]
He assessed the Skeleton Warrior's structure in a mere three seconds. Trimming the bones to the proper specifications took another ten.
With practiced efficiency, he used [Bone Armor] to transform and reinforce the skeletal frame, a process that took roughly ten seconds more.
'23 seconds… My skills have dulled.'
Before his regression, a mere glance would have been enough to accomplish the same task.
Now, this... this 'hands-on' approach requiring a full twenty-three seconds felt like an embarrassing indignity.
〔Hmm. Can't you just shave off the bones and replace them?〕
'Our constellation doesn't know how delicate undead reinforcement is.'
Understanding the structure.
Mana interference.
Bone carving.
Finally, structural fusion.
If you make a mistake in any process, the undead's specs will not increase, but will be greatly reduced.
If the error is large, it will be completely destroyed.
〔It looks like you're just pulling out any bones to me.〕
'It's a delicate matter of touching the center of the spirit power.'
〔But the results are disappointing compared to the effort you put in.〕
Kronos groaned briefly and sent another thought.
〔Wouldn't it be better to modify them like the fused undead or the Armored series?〕
'Conditions must be met. Materials are also needed.'
To elevate the Skeleton Warrior into a higher form of undead, he required [Scrap Metal Filled with Obsession], a material refined through alchemy.
Unfortunately, summoning Shin Joonseok from the Paju workshop was out of the question; the alchemist was preoccupied with establishing a mass production system for [Tears of the Saint].
Fusion presented its own challenges, demanding a soul that synchronized harmoniously with the undead's physical form. Finding such a compatible match was no simple feat.
〔Wouldn't it be fine to infuse the souls of the monsters you just defeated into the bodies?〕
'You know monsters are only half-formed beings, right?'
He knew that monsters were inherently incomplete beings, conjured into existence by the gate's core drawing mana from the earth's veins and the atmosphere.
While their physical forms could be molded from base elements like soil and air, their souls were inherently flawed, mere echoes of true sentience.
This explained the instinctive, almost mindless behavior of the creatures that emerged from the gates.
He recalled the [Crimson Lair] raid, where he had managed to manipulate the monsters' fragmented souls to his advantage.
However, such fractured essences were unsuitable for the delicate process of fusion; a complete and harmonious soul was required to create a truly integrated being.
〔That's a bit disappointing.〕
'Maybe a variant like One-Eyed, but ordinary monsters won't do.'
200 Skeleton Warriors.
250 Revenants.
A total of 450 undead were created and reinforced one by one, taking half a day.
He also absorbed the life force of monsters that were barely alive due to his depleted spirit power.
His concentration wasn't as good as it was before the regression, so he took breaks.
"Ah, this is damn tiring."
〔450 reinforced 3 Star undead. With your warrior, isn't that enough preparation?〕
'I told you before. Undead have lower combat power than those of the same rank.'
When they are first created, they are initially strengthened to boost their specs.
If their stats are increased with a second modification, they gain power that surpasses 3 Star monsters.
But they are still a step behind Hunters of the same star rating.
'Even with superior specs, it can't beat equipment.'
Even with various means of strengthening the undead.
They are still somewhat lacking compared to Hunters who wear various items and also carry consumables.
In a one-on-one situation, there might be a way to manage, but in a large-scale battle, the difference becomes even greater.
'The combination is also simple.'
The main force of the Necropolis is the Skeleton Warriors and Revenants, who specialize in melee combat.
Revenants are also slow in mobility, making it difficult to take advantage of numerical superiority.
Even though it is said that one hand cannot block ten hands.
After all, you need to surround them to take 100% advantage of numerical superiority.
'The level of ranged support troops is also lacking.'
Skeleton Mages are 2 Star.
Even with reinforcement, they don't reach 3 Star, and they don't have much mana, so they are at a disadvantage in a war of attrition.
It would be nice to be able to push through with numbers.
But you need a corpse with magical aptitude to create Skeleton Mages, so it's difficult to increase their numbers.
〔You're exaggerating too much.〕
'Was it that obvious?'
〔Didn't you calculate victory even when you were at a much greater disadvantage? You must have already come up with a countermeasure.〕
'Besides the undead, there are other ways to deal with ranged firepower.'
After modifying all the newly created undead.
Yoojin headed to the Necromancy Research Lab.
"What's the progress of the research?"
【I have finished all the first research tasks.】
[Necromancy Research Lab has completed research on 'Defensive Structure Lv1'.]
['Tower of the Dead' can now be built in the relevant territory and linked Black Spire.]
"Good. You did well without slacking off."
【The second research is also in progress.】
[The current research item is 'Undead Enhancement Lv1'.]
[Estimated completion time - 71:53:47]
"Just do that."
【Leave it to me.】
A 5 Star mage.
Even though he can't fully demonstrate the power he had in life due to the limitations of the undead species called Dark Minion.
Thanks to the fusion, he was able to exert a considerable amount of his original abilities, so he easily digested the first stage research task of the Necromancy Research Lab.
'Okay. Now let's move on to the next phase of preparation.'
〔And what would that be?〕
'Securing our ranged defenses. We have the advantage of a defensive position. We need to exploit that to the fullest.'
＊ ＊ ＊
Yoojin placed his hand on the Black Spire and checked the territory information.
⋯⋯⋯
[Territory Size - 2]
[Necromancy Amplification Range - 3km]
[Number of Undead that can be Controlled - 451/500]
[Spiritual Power Concentration – 3]
[Structures]
-Black Spire (Link - 5)
-Unholy Graveyard (1)
-Hall of Death (1)
-Necromancy Research Institute (1)
-Giant's Tomb (1)
⋯⋯⋯
The territory window was clearly different.
The first thing that caught his eye was that the Necromancy Amplification Range had tripled.
Necromancy Amplification Range = Fog.
'The undead are strengthened, and the living are forced to have a vision penalty.'
The Rakshasa Guild wouldn't cross the border without any countermeasures.
If they finished their background check at Arhan.
They would have also grasped the ominous fog that hangs over the Necropolis.
Nevertheless.
Forcing a disadvantage on the opponent is an absolute gain.
'It's still not enough.'
It would be different if he could use corpses buried in the ground beforehand like during the spider hunt.
He lacked the power to confront them head-on.
So.
Now was the time to bring to life the meaning of fighting in the 'Necromancer's Territory'.
⋯⋯⋯
[Tower of the Dead]
A structure that attacks enemies within range using the bones of the dead as bullets.
▷Construction Conditions
-Defensive Structure Lv1 research
-1,000kg of bones.
-300kg of soil accumulated with spirit power.
⋯⋯⋯
〔So all this was for the sake of having that minion conduct research.〕
'The conditions have already been met.'
Fafnir had thoroughly searched the vicinity of the Necropolis to find the corpses of 3 Star monsters.
Encountering monsters in the process was inevitable.
It was unlikely that the monsters would just simply step aside.
Thanks to that, more corpses piled up.
It was just a hassle to separate the bones and flesh of the corpses with [Flesh Control].
"Construct the Tower of the Dead."
When he shouted with firm determination, an eerie light flowed from the surface of the Black Spire.
[Please designate the placement location for the structure.]
The fog created by the Black Spire.
In other words, the Necromancy Amplification Range unfolded before Yoojin's eyes like a 3D hologram.
'The maximum range of the tower is about 300 meters.'
General projectile-type magic finds it difficult to exert its power if it travels more than 100 meters.
On the other hand, the Tower of the Dead theoretically has quite a wide range.
〔Isn't it quite useful?〕
'I said theoretically. In reality, there's a lot to consider.'
The border area was made up of large and small mountains, hills, and thickets.
Unless it was an open area, it would be difficult to take advantage of the tower.
'That's why I looked at the site for the tower beforehand.'
〔The bone walls you installed throughout the territory were a stepping stone for this.〕
'Correct.'
Now you understand without me having to explain.
When he selected the terrain he had chosen beforehand, the bones piled up in the Unholy Graveyard seeped into the ground.
[Construction of the Tower of the Dead begins.]
[Construction time - 48:00:00]
Two days.
Compared to modern construction technology, it was a tremendous speed.
'Construct three more towers.'
Most of the bones from the corpses piled up by Fafnir were used up.
When additional Towers of the Dead were built within the territory, the waiting time increased significantly.
〔It will be difficult to complete within the time predicted by that small human.〕
'That's if you just stand by and watch.'
Defensive structures essential for defending the Necropolis.
Range.
Combat endurance.
And even durability.
None of them were lacking.
Until now, there had been no need to protect the Necropolis, so the construction of defensive structures had been postponed.
But since he had decided to expand his power base near Paju, it was time to invest in earnest.
[Intervening in structure creation.]
[Construction speed increased by 127%.]
Unlike the Hall of Death or the Black Spire, the construction efficiency of defensive structures could not be drastically increased solely by the Necromancer's discretion.
It was limited to adding spirit power.
Or assisting in the calculation of the formulas involved in the construction process.
"You guys come and work too."
Fafnir and Jo Seungchul, who had learned necromancy, were also summoned to the Black Spire.
[Construction speed increased by 21%.]
[Construction speed increased by 45%.]
The efficiency of the two undead combined was less than that of Yoojin alone.
Still, it was better than nothing.
'I hope I can get a lot of useful magic-type corpses from the Rakshasa Guild.'
In his previous life, he had created many magic-type undead and had them participate in the operation of the Necropolis.
Since he was gaining strength faster in this life.
Would he be able to build the system he had created in the past even faster?
＊ ＊ ＊
The cargo train lurched violently.
Clank— Clank—
Anti-Hunter weapons were stacked neatly in the empty space.
Armed Hunters slowly boarded the train.
"Ah, shit. Why are we riding in the cargo hold?"
"Guild Leader's orders."
"That damn security thing. What a pain in the ass."
The train requisitioned by the Rakshasa Guild was originally intended to transport goods arriving from overseas to the interior.
Therefore, it was the optimal way to secretly transport weapons and Hunters to Paju without attracting attention.
"We were having some fun, and now this. It's exhausting."
Whirr—
Kim Mijeong, the Rakshasa Guild’s Operations Chief, a Hunter at the peak of 6 Star, didn't hide her displeasure.
"Yo, bro. Just bear with it this once."
"I'm a woman, you know? Don't call me ‘bro’, Guild Leader."
"You're gonna hurt my feelings talking like that."
"Bullshit. Like I care?"
Park Jinsoo, the Master of the Rakshasa Guild, still maintained his playful demeanor.
"This mission will definitely be fun."
"....Really?"
"This Cheon Yoojin guy… he's quite something."
The Arhan Guild had thoroughly investigated Yoojin's movements. As Park Jinsoo summarized their findings, Kim Mijeong's eyes began to gleam with interest.
"Is he really a 3 Star?"
"Considering when he first entered the Gate, probably."
"Keke. You said he handles a summon too, right?"
"Cheon Yoojin's summon specializes in close combat, not dual swords."
"That's a bit of a shame."
Kim Mijeong couldn't let go of what had happened at the Strong Moss supply site.
If Yoojin's summon had used dual swords instead of close combat…
She could then link the incident on the deserted island with his movements.
'Though I'd have to omit a few pieces of evidence.'
Kim Mijeong didn't realize she was approaching the truth based purely on her own intuition.
"Anyway, go. It'll be fun since it's something the Arhan Guild is struggling with."
Though she was the third-in-command of the Rakshasa Guild, in terms of actual combat power, she was second only to Park Jinsoo.
The woman before him was driven solely by her own interests, which was the only reason she wasn't entrusted with executive duties.
"I'll be back."
Kim Mijeong smirked and boarded the cargo hold.
------------------
HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Join our Discord for release updates!
https://discord.com/invite/dbdMDhzWa2
------------------
